Swimming-flipper with staged propulsion-surfaces



y 1962 N. MAZZELLA 3,032,787

SWIMMING-FLIPPER WITH STAGED PROPULSION-SURFACES C //VVN76R T NICOLAS MAZELLA United States Patent 3,032,787 SWIMMING-FLIPPER WITH STAGED PROPUL- SIGN-SURFACES Nicolas Mazzella, 6 Rue Crinas Prolongee, Marseille, France Filed Mar. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 97,056 Claims priority, application France Mar. 25, 1960 2 Claims. (Cl. 9-309) Swimmingflippers generally consist of a surface which forms a prolongation of the shoe-part in a continuous plane, having either an inclination or a flexibility enabling it to undergo deformation.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a swimmingflipper which increases the propulsive elfect while at the same time reducing the fatigue to which the user is subjected, recuperating some of the energy expended by the swimmer when the latter moves his legs to and fro or performs swimming-movements.

It is characterised by the means employed, considered both in conjunction with one another and independently of one another, and more particularly by the provision in stages, on the vertical plane, of propulsion-surfaces placed at suitable distances and in a position enabling the ,maximum recuperation to be obtained at the main edge where the propulsive force is generally lost.

,Tin the attached drawings, provided by way of an example, without any limitative effect of one of the possibile constructional versions of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of the flipper.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a plan View and a view in perspective of the same device.

*FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams of the operation of the device, shown in the usual inverted position as required by a swimmer swimming face-downwards.

The flipper shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 consists of a shoe-part 1 and two lateral ribs 2 and 3, forming the framework.

These ribs have an end-profile 4, 5, which, being suitably curved and distinctly oblique, ensure a difierence of level.

The shoe-part is prolonged in the form of a propulsionsurface 6 of the traditional type with a free escape-edge 7.

A second propulsion portion 8 with leading escapement edge 9, is attached to the ribs in the lower plane, and constitutes one stage characterising the invention.

The positioning is effected at a certain distance and at a suitable angle.

The advantages and the operation of this device will be evident from the foregoing.

The principle of the staged flipper is based on the recuperation of part of the propulsive force developed and lost after its brief action at the escape-edge.

The second propulsion portion 8, owing to its shape, constitutes a hydrodynamic device of great efficiency, limiting the swimmers effort to the maximum during his ascent, while at the same time giving this movement a propulsive effect equally eificient to that performed on the descent.

Thus, if this flipper is used, for example, for a certain swimming-movement, a descending motor-motion is carried out in the direction shown by the arrow A. The dotted line in FIGS. 4 and 5 represents the front of the swimmers leg.

The liquid thrust away in the direction shown by the arrow C uses its live force on the surface 8, which recuperates the streams D, E, increasing the propulsive force.

During the ascent, which in normal cases constitutes idle time, in the direction shown by the arrow B, the thrust F recuperates the stream shown by the arrow G, which acts on the leading escapement edge 9 and the trailing escapement edge 10.

Thus, this second propulsion portion 8 enables some of the lost propulsive force to be recuperated at the main escape-edge 7, while in all existing types of flipper this force is wasted.

This recuperation takes place in all methods of swimmlng.

It enables swimmers to attain high speeds and at the same time results in a saving effort, as it sets up a movement of water the whole of which is recuperated for propulsion-purposes.

The passive resistances and the idle times are reduced despite the increase of the propulsion-surfaces.

The hollowed-out part between the stages eliminates the resistances, at the same time utilising the resulting deflection of the stream of Water and the resulting turbulence for propelling the user forward, so that the surfaces are thus utilised in their entirety for propulsion-purposes.

According to the possible constructional variants, the flexibility of the staged surfaces may differ and orifices may be provided, as well as hollowed-out parts in certain positions.

The shapes, dimensions and arrangements of the various elements may nevertheless vary within the limits allowed by equivalent devices, as may likewise the materials used for their manufacture, without thereby departing from the general principles of the invention described in the foregoing.

I claim:

1. A swimmers flipper of resilient material comprising a shoe portion, two lateral reinforcing ribs disposed longitudinally one at each side of the shoe portion and extending forwardly of the shoe portion at one end, a first propulsion portion forming a forward extension of the shoe portion supported between the two ribs and having a forward escapement edge, and a second propulsion portion secured on the forward ends of the two ribs and spaced forwardly of and below the first propulsion portion, said second propulsion portion having leading and trailing escapement edges.

2. A swimmers flipper of resilient material comprising a shoe portion, two curved lateral reinforcement ribs disposed longitudinally one at each side of the shoe portion and extending forwardly of the shoe portion and below said shoe portion, a first propulsion portion forming a forward extension of the shoe portion supported at its sides by being made integral with the two ribs and being downwardly curved and terminating forwardly in an escapement edge, and a second propulsion portion secured at the lower forward ends of the two ribs so as to be spaced forwardly of and below the first propulsion portion, said second propulsion portion having leading and trailing escapement edges.

No references cited. 

